THE investigation into Stephen Lawrence’s murder has been shelved despite three men suspected of involvement in the 1993 killing having never faced justice.

Detectives say they have no further lines of inquiry and that the case will be moved to an “inactive phase,” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick announced yesterday.

The 18-year-old was murdered in a racist attack in Eltham, south-east London, while he waited at a bus stop with his friend.

After a botched initial investigation, Gary Dobson and David Norris eventually received life sentences in 2012 for the murder.

Two of the three remaining suspects, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, have since served jail time for drug-dealing, while Luke Knight has remained free.

Neville Lawrence, Stephen’s father, said: “Over the last few years, I have had to come to terms with the reality that some of the killers of Stephen may never be brought to justice for what they did.

“The tragedy of this for us was compounded by the initial police response and investigation, which were tainted by racism and incompetence. 

“The police failures meant that we as a family had to fight a system as well as deal with the grief of losing our son.”